Why are People Homeless?

The National Coalition for the Homeless reports (June 2008) that the growing shortage of affordable rental housing and simultaneous increase in povertyare largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years. Other notable causes of homelessness may include lack of healthcare, domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse.

Poverty, homelessness and low income:

Poor people are frequently unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, health care, and education. Difficult choices must be made when limited resources cover only some of these necessities. Often it is housing, which absorbs a high proportion of income that must be dropped. Being poor means being an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on the streets.

How many people are experiencing poverty?

In 2005, 13.3% of the U.S. population, or 38,231,521 million people, lived in poverty. Both the poverty rate and the number of poor people have increased in recent years, up from 12.5% or 1.1 million in 2003 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2005). 36% of persons living in poverty are children; in fact, the 2004 poverty rate of 17.6% for children under 18 years old is significantly higher than the poverty rate for any other age group.

Housing:

There is a severe shortage of affordable housing for low-income families with children. Recent studies show that 2.5 million very low-income families with children have severe housing cost burdens and par more than 50 percent of their income for housing costs. It is highlighted that housing assistance substantially reduces the chances that homeless families will repeat homelessness and decent, affordable housing, combined with other family support services can help low-income families to achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.

Hunger:

In 2006, 35.5 million Americans lived in food insecure households, 22.8 million adults and 12.6 million children. In the United States, 11.7 million children live in households where people have to skip meals or eat less to make ends meet. That means one in ten households in the U.S. are living with hunger or are at risk of hunger.

Employment:

Research studies document that all segments of the homeless and low-income population face significant and multiple barriers to employment.
Lack of transportation, child care expenses, educational credentials, substance abuse, mental and physical health and certain disabilities are prevalent and have substantial impact on the income.

Nevada Facts:

- Thousands of people face the choice between feeding their families and paying the bills.

- It is reported that out of the over 300,000 students in the Clark County School District, 42.5% (who completed paperwork) receive "Free and Reduced Meals." In other words 131, 272 school children are hungry.

- 454,235 children under the age of 18 live below the poverty line.

- 180,854 residents over the age of 65 live below the poverty line.

LSSN meets the rising needs by providing comprehensive social services to thousands of low-moderate income and homeless individuals and families.